The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-12

elected by small majority. General Massie
commenced the business OF contesting elections
which has since been so popular In Ohio, by
claiming that Meigs was ineligible, under the
constitution. by reason OF his temporary ab-
tence from the State, the pretense being that
he had not lived in IL long enough since his
return to become ctizeh. The contest was
carried before the Legislature and that re-
mnrkable body decided that Colonel Megs
was Ineligible to the of1ice, and that General
Massie was duly elected Governor Of the State
OF Ohio"
Massie wanted tho ONCE. and no doubt felt
that his distinguished services entitled him to
II, but he would not accept II when his antago.
mist had q majority OF the popular VOTE SO with
the verdict OF the General Assembly as his SOL
ace, he declined to become Governor, and Megs
was inauguratcd.
After this event he maintained interest in
public afairs and rs often rs he could spare
the time from his private affairs he was elected
to tho Legislature from Ross County.
General Massic's stirring and useful life closed
on the 3D. day Of November, 1S13 He was
buried on his farm, but In June, 1870, his
remains and those Of his wife were removed to
the beautiful Upland Cemetery, overlooking the
city of Chillcothe. where rest all the illustrious
dead Of Ohios first capital.
General Masse's oldest son, who bears his
fathers name. is still living, at an advanced age
in Hillsboro, Highland County.
The lives Of the people who lived in Chilli
cothe and Ross County $50 called in honor OF
Hon. Jas. Ross, who was u candidate on the
Federalist ticket for Governor OF Pennsylvania
when the county was organized In 1881 were
not unlike those who settled in other parts OF
the Northwest Territory ninety years or so ago.
The pioneers who came to Chlicothe were from
kentucky and Virginia. They came in two
companies in the spring Of 1905 When Colonel
Massie laid out the town OF Chillicotho he gave
each OF the first settlers lot and by the end of
the year 1905, about twenty cabins were erected
and within q few months q ferry across the
Scioto was established at the north terminus OF
Walnut street. The emigrants had brought
some corn-meal with them, but after 1t was con.
sumed they had TO pound their corn in mortars
and 1t was then mixed with bears oil and made
into kind of bread.
Whisky played an important part in new
countries then rs now. When Chllicothe was
first laid out whisky was scarce article and IN
expensive one, the price being four dollars and
fifty cents gallon. In the spring of 1907, when
the keelboats began to come up the Sciotc
river, Monongahela whisky was sent to the
young colony in such quantities that the supply
exceeded the demand and the price dropped tc
fifty cents gallon, and the community ut once
took advantage Of the cheap whisky and dscon
tinued the general use of water as q beverage
An observer who was living at this time in Chill
| lcothe writes: Men, women and children. with
some exceptions drank freely, and many who
had been respectable and temperate became in
ebriates. Many OF General Wayne's soldier.
and camp followers settled in the town. so that
for O time 1t became town OF drunkards and
sink Of corruption"
But this period Of deprnvity soon reached Its
lowest point. revolution took place, a better
order ensued and crimes were suppressed ant
offenders punished.
The story is told OF a man named Brannon